Vettel sets new standards in Brazil

(CNN) -- Sebastian Vettel cemented his place in F1 history with a ninth straight victory and 13th of the season as his teammate Mark Webber bade farewell by completing a one-two for Red Bull in Brazil Sunday.

Rounding off a triumphant 2013, four-time champion Vettel led from start to finish to finish just over 10 seconds clear of Webber, with Fernando Alonso of Ferrari in third place.

Vettel was equaling Alberto Ascari's record for successive Grand Prix victories, the Italian achieving the feat over two seasons with Ferrari in 1952 and 1953.

He also matched the record haul of 13 wins achieved by his German compatriot Michael Schumacher in the 2004 season.

Webber was unable to exert any real pressure on Vettel in his bid to sign off his F1 career with a victory, but was satisfied with his efforts before moving to sportscar racing.

"It was a good finish to my career," he said on the podium.

Read: Vettel takes pole at Interlagos

"I want to thank everyone in Australia and I want to thank everyone who has helped me -- they know who they are."

Vettel has often found himself at odds with Webber in recent seasons, he acknowledged as much in his remarks at the victory celebration, but also paid tribute to his teammate.

"Thanks to Mark, we didn't have the best of relationships but we have also have always had a lot of respect for each other and we have been a very successful pairing for the team," he said.

At just 26, Vettel has already completed 39 career wins, his latest triumphs coming in an incredible unbeaten run since the Belgian Grand Prix in July.

Read: Red Bull sets F1 pitstop record in Texas

"I am actually quite sad the season is coming to an end. The car has been phenomenal and has been getting better in every race," he added.

Alonso's teammate Felipe Massa also said farewell to Ferrari in front of his home crowd at Interlagos, but was thwarted by a drive through penalty for a minor technical infringement after holding fourth place.

He eventually finished seventh in his final race before heading to Williams for next season.

Two-time champion Alonso, who finished a distant runner-up to Alonso in the title race, believed that without the penalty "a podium was close for Felipe."

The Spaniard added: "It's sad but for the last four years he's been an amazing teammate with amazing skills and we've had a friendly relationship."

With rain threatening throughout, the only difficult moment for Vettel came as he made his second pit stop, the Red Bull team left unprepared as they anticipated the safety car.

Read: Affable Aussie aims for victory in F1 farewell

The minor hold up saw Webber and Alonso take closer order, but Vettel was unruffled and took the checkered flag in splendid isolation as so often in the latter part of the season.

Jenson Button claimed McLaren's highest placing of the season in fourth ahead of Nico Rosberg for Mercedes.

Sergio Perez, dropped by McLaren for next season, rounded off his career with them with sixth place, ahead of Massa.

Promising German Nico Hulkenberg was eighth for Sauber ahead of 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton, whose challenge for Mercedes was hampered by both a puncture and a drive through penalty.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo, in his final race for Toro Rosso before replacing compatriot Webber at Red Bull, took the final point.

Via: Vettel sets new standards in Brazil

Mallya: Why F1 needs India

London (CNN) -- "You know, Bernie (Ecclestone) is a good friend of mine and I have tried to persuade him that India has a market that should not be ignored. I would be very, very disappointed if India fell into the category of being in the F1 calendar and then being permanently out of the calendar."

So says Dr. Vijay Mallya -- wealthy industrialist, parliamentarian, Force India co-owner, force of nature and motorsport nut -- from the comfort of an antique chair in the office of his plush Regent's Park, London residence.

The 57-year-old has always gone about business in his own way. Dubbed the "King of Good Times" for the playboy style of his younger days and his ownership of Kingfisher breweries, it is maybe fitting that one of the subcontinent's most powerful men (Forbes suggests he has a personal wealth of $800 million) dresses in what seem to be pajama bottoms and a polo shirt for CNN's visit to his stately and opulent home.

Interactive: Inside the Indian Grand Prix

His clothing style might be eclectic and his style relaxed, but his passion for F1 in India is resolute.

"From what I understand, we are going to give 2014 a skip because of scheduling issues -- there are three new grands prix scheduled next year -- and I am hoping that we will be back with an Indian GP in 2015," Mallya states between draws on his cigarillo.

"It's large -- yes, India has its problems and some frustrations that go with it ... but the market is just too big and far too important for F1 to ignore."

It's the kind of demographic that makes taking Formula One to emerging markets and away from its traditional European heartland -- a bold and controversial policy of the sport's ever-entrepreneurial supremo Bernie Ecclestone -- seem like a logical step.

There have been perceived successes, such as the night race of Singapore, Austin's bridgehead to the American market and the purpose-built Yaz Marina venue that showcases Abu Dhabi. But this has come at the expense of others.

Interactive: How does an F1 steering wheel work?

Fans of the French, Turkish and South African Grands Prix (to mention a few) fear that the road to reinstate their races to the F1 calendar, after they made way for the newcomers, remains as long and challenging as Shanghai's back straight on blistered tires.

Put simply: if you're dropped from the schedule it's hard to bounce back.

Which might explain anxieties being felt at the Buddh International Circuit ahead of this weekend's race in Greater Noida, near New Delhi.

It has been shelved for 2014 due to Ecclestone's desire to move its place to March because of increasing costs due to rupee depreciation and tax issues faced by the teams. The race organizers were unable to stage two races within five months to accommodate Ecclestone's wishes.

Vicky Chandhok, president of the Federation of Motor Sport Clubs of India, this week told British newspaper The Guardian he feared the race may never return despite promises to the contrary for 2015.

Read: F1's appetite for driver dieting

Mallya remains bullish but admits there may be need of a new approach from the state to secure the event's future.

"F1 needs India because of the economic opportunities in the country going forward, given its size and scale. But you know, the Delhi Grand Prix is actually staged by the track owners," he says.

"There is no government involvement -- the government only gives the necessary permissions and government doesn't have any financial exposure whatsoever to the F1 event.

"I wish that the government would actually force some support to F1 -- it's good for tourism, it's good for the country's image, and other governments across the world believe in it, and I hope the Indian government will one day believe in it."

Critics argue that F1 faces stiff competition for the attention of sport fans in India, with the cost of tickets being out of reach for the bulk of the population -- and with cricket, hockey and the English Premier League laying claims to the hearts of the population's affinities.

A fear some argued was borne out when attendance at the 2012 race dropped from over 90,000 in its first year to around 65,000 in its second.

Read: Force India star's Italian roots

But Mallya, whose love of motorsport started when racing single-seaters in the 1970s and moved to F1 with sponsorship of the Benetton team in 1995, feels there is good reason to be hopeful.

"India is a very prosperous country in the overall sense. It also has its fair share of challenges, a lot of underprivileged people in poverty and so on. So, it has to be viewed in that context," he says.

"Over the last 20 years, while I have always dreamed of hosting an F1 race or participating in an F1 race, economically it seemed like Mount Everest -- a challenge that many times was sort of insurmountable.

"And so when the grand prix group actually invested in the new track in Noida, outside Delhi, and F1 in India became reality, I mean, it was almost miraculous, it was like a lifelong dream come true.

"There is no drought of potential fans. You know, we have more than 500 million young Indians below the age of 18, and that's a lot. Cricket is number one in India and has been there for decades. So, one shouldn't try to change that at all.

"But you know, modern racing ... is glamorous, it's exciting and that is attractive enough. Yes, football is popular in India, but only in five states, it's not a pan-Indian game. Hockey is our national sport, but sadly over the years it sort of lost its mass popularity.

Read: 'Second chance' for Sutil at Force India

"So yes, I mean, there are hundreds of millions of Indians who are there and are potential fans for each sport. There's space enough for everyone."

The ambition to act as a catalyst for F1 fanaticism in India has become a personal crusade for Mallya. When he bought the Spyker team in 2007 he renamed it "Force India" and made its colors orange, white and green to evoke national pride rather than promote the brands he owns, as with Red Bull Racing for example.

He'd also cite the money he's plowed into the Force India Drivers' Academy, which has unearthed the Indian driver Jehan Daruvala, on whom many hopes are being pinned for the future.

But Mallya -- a man whose yacht dwarfs all others in harbor of Monaco come GP time -- knows nothing inspires like victory.

In this regard, he knows his team is still battling the odds this weekend: "We came very close to a few podiums in 2013, for some reason it didn't happen. I would be absolutely over the moon if we got a podium this year before the season ended!"

Force India's drivers, Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta, will also be hoping for a good result -- so Mallya is inclined to delve into his wallet to renew their contracts for next year.

Via: Mallya: Why F1 needs India

'I did it my way,' says F1's 'Lazarus'

The Circuit is CNN's F1 series. Click here for showtimes, videos, news and features.

(CNN) -- Niki Lauda is the Lazarus of Formula One.

Having risen in triumph from the brink of death, his tale of almost biblical proportions was given the Hollywood treatment in recently-released blockbuster "Rush."

But the straight-talking triple world champion does not believe in miracles or the sentiment of the silver screen.

The Austrian has built his own legacy by defying not only death, but also his family, employers and arch rivals along the way.

"I go my own way," the 64-year-old, whose fightback from life-threatening injuries in 1976 to win two more world titles ranks as one of sport's greatest comebacks, told CNN's The Circuit.

"Thank god, I learned in sport, that there is no excuse. It's very simple, if you're first, second or third there's no discussion.

"If something goes wrong, look into yourself first -- what did I do wrong?

"I only see black and white, I have no gray areas and I hate them.

"I try to analyze, take the decision, even if it's the wrong one, it's better than making no decision because if you take no decision you never find out what you have to do. "

Maverick racer

Lauda was born into a wealthy Austrian family four years after the end of World War II, but despite growing up with privilege he learned quickly that he would have to make his own way in the world.

His family disapproved of their teenage son's racing ambitions. When Lauda found an Austrian bank to sponsor his debut with the March F1 team, his grandfather -- who happened to sit on the board of the bank -- scotched the deal.

"He said, 'No way! If this is my grandson, you will not sponsor him,' " Lauda says.

"I really got upset with him and said, 'Leave me alone, it is my own business.' Then I started racing my own way."

Lauda bankrolled his own way on to the F1 grid, making his debut in the 1971 Austrian Grand Prix for the uncompetitive March team.

Read: 'Rush' relives F1's death or glory days

His decision to take out further bank loans to finance his F1 career paid off at the end of 1973 when he was signed by Ferrari -- but even this new era with the sport's most iconic team saw Lauda continue to do things his way.

"I remember my first test in Fiorano," he recalls. "I drove the first couple of laps and (team founder) Enzo Ferrari was there and Piero his son to translate.

"Ferrari said, 'So kid what do you think of this car?'

"I said the car was s**t. And Piero said, 'You cannot say this. You cannot tell my father that the car is s**t because he will throw you out. Tell him it's no good, it sounds a little better.'

"He told him and the old man really got upset because I criticized a Ferrari."

Lucky to be alive

Lauda soon earned the respect of "Il Commendatore," a proponent of tough love who the Austrian still describes as "the most charismatic guy I have ever met in my whole life."

In 1975 he stormed to five wins to capture his first world title with the Italian powerhouse -- but the following season fate cruelly intervened.

Going into the German Grand Prix at the notorious Nurburgring circuit, which he had asked his fellow drivers to boycott due to its poor safety setup, Lauda was leading the 1976 title hunt.

He came out of the race fighting for his life.

Lauda's Ferrari burst into a fireball after a crash on the second lap. He was pulled from the flames with severe burns and lung damage. Lying in hospital later that night, he was administered the last rites by a priest.

Analysis: Does F1 lack the characters of the past?

Typically for Lauda, he saw things differently. At the age of 27, he summoned his will of iron to find a way back -- calling it the most courageous decision in his F1 career.

"First, I knew about the danger," says Lauda, who wears a baseball cap to hide the scars left by his fiery crash.

"I went to every accident, even if I was not involved or didn't see it, to understand what happened.

"The accident did not surprise me because I knew it was dangerous. I told myself, 'I was lucky, I'm still alive so why not as I'm alive, God help me, let's try.'

"This was the big challenge ... a comeback. For me it was clear, that the longer I wait, the more difficult it's going to be because the more worries you start building up.

"I had to do it as quick as possible to overcome these problems and to keep racing as before."

Defining moments

Just 42 days after his crash in Germany, Lauda was back in the cockpit of a Ferrari and racing to defend his title at the Italian Grand Prix.

It was a comeback that defied the medics and his rivals, but it was another brave decision that decided the title.

Lauda refused to race in the torrential rain in the title-deciding Japanese Grand Prix, a decision that saw the title swing into the hands of his rival James Hunt.

"I would take the same decision today," Lauda says. "It was stupid to race."

The story of those defining points has been turned into "Rush," a movie by F1 fan and director Ron Howard.

For Lauda, his self determination has continued to guide him to this day.

After winning a second title with Ferrari and moving to the Brabham team, he quit F1 with two races still to run in the 1979 season.

Read: Raikkonen return will wake up Alonso

Lauda said he "tired of driving round in circles," and a new career as an airline boss beckoned.

However, a second coming for McLaren brought his third and final world title in 1984, before an inevitable second retirement followed.

Lauda is now an opinionated but respected voice in the inner circle of F1's paddock, where he patrols as a non-executive chairman of the Mercedes team and a TV analyst.

If "Rush" is the movie of his life then the soundtrack has to be Frank Sinatra's "My Way."

"I do not want to change," Lauda insists. "I will continue all the way through to the end of my life in this way."

Via: 'I did it my way,' says F1's 'Lazarus'

Raikkonen returns to Ferrari in 2014

(CNN) -- The Iceman has returned to fire up Ferrari.

The legendary Formula One team has re-signed Finn Kimi Raikkonen to partner Fernando Alonso in 2014.

The Italian marque is replacing Brazilian Felipe Massa with its 2007 world champion as it seeks to end an era of Red Bull dominance.

"Scuderia Ferrari announces that it has reached an agreement with Kimi Raikkonen," read a statement on the team's official website. "The Finn will join Fernando Alonso in the driver lineup for the next two racing seasons."

Raikkonen spoke of his pleasure at returning to the team which had employed him between 2007 and 2009.

"I am really happy to be returning to Maranello where I previously spent three fantastic and very successful years," Raikkonen said.

"I have so many memories of my time at Ferrari, memories which have stayed with me these past years.

"I can't wait to be driving a Prancing Horse car again and to reacquaint myself with so many people with whom I had such close links."

Old foes, new friends?

Ferrari will be the only team to race two world champions next season, making it the most potent, but potentially risky, pairing on the grid.

Commenting on his new teammate, Alonso said: "I'd like to welcome my new traveling companion: together, starting next year, we will have to tackle a very demanding technical and racing challenge."

Raikkonen added that he considered the Spanish double world champion, "a great driver."

Ferrari released Raikkonen in 2009 -- ending his multimillion-dollar contract a year early -- to make way for Alonso as its number one driver alongside Massa.

Raikkonen said at the time he was "very sad" to leave Ferrari and he immediately quit F1 to pursue rallying.

That backdrop feeds a fascinating dynamic between Raikkonen and Alonso as they work together as teammates next season.

Pairing Alonso with another ambitious and capable driver is a risk -- a problem McLaren had to face when it signed the Spaniard alongside Lewis Hamilton in 2007.

Read: Alonso saves cycling team

Alonso, who won back-to-back world titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006, left McLaren after a single season in which he and Hamilton fought over No. 1 status within the team.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo had said earlier this year he did not want "two roosters in the same henhouse" but that view softened at last weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

Di Montezemolo gave Raikkonen the green light ahead of Massa and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg, who had also been linked with a move to Ferrari next season.

Massa, who was retained by Ferrari after recovering from a life-threatening head injury at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, announced his departure Monday.

The 32-year-old revealed on his Twitter account: "From 2014 I will no longer be driving for Ferrari.

All the luck for next years! You will be a strong opponent in any team! And we still have 7 GP to have some fun! pic.twitter.com/gsHQvVY9hThttp://t.co/zvzso1xi7q

"I would like to thank the team for all the victories and incredible moments experienced together.

"Right now I want to push as hard as possible with Ferrari for the remaining seven races. For next year, I want to find a team that can give me a competitive car to win many more races and challenge for the championship which remains my greatest objective!"

Raikkonen, who has won two races since returning to F1 with Lotus in 2011, will be determined to fight for victories -- something Massa has struggled to do alongside Alonso.

The Brazilian, who has spent eight years at Ferrari, has not won a race during his tenure as Alonso's teammate while the former Renault star has won 11 grands prix since joining Ferrari in 2010.

Raikkonen -- nicknamed "the Iceman" -- is not expected to be cowed by Alonso's strong personality or his abilities on track.

Ferrari will hope their "fire and ice" combination will bring out the best in each other as it seeks to win its first team title since 2008.

Read: Meet Kimi Raikkonen - F1's Mr Consistency

Team principal Stefano Domenicali chose only to focus on Raikkonen's comeback Wednesday, saying: "I sense he is very happy to be returning to Maranello and very determined to tackle the work that awaits him in the best way possible."

Ferrari's late founder Enzo Ferrari had a reputation for encouraging rivalry between his drivers but Ferrari has preferred to adopt a policy of focusing on a lead driver since Michael Schumacher joined in 1996.

Silent but deadly

Raikkonen is as renowned for his reticence as he is for his pure speed -- the 33-year-old simply prefers to do his talking on the track.

But his occasional, pithy one-liners have earned him a legion of global fans.

His comment to Lotus on team radio as he raced to victory in Abu Dhabi last year ("Leave me alone, I know what I'm doing") was so popular it has appeared as a slogan on t-shirts and mugs.

Back in 2001, Raikkonen was fast tracked into F1 by Sauber after competing in a mere 23 races in motorsport's junior categories.

McLaren was the next team to recognize Raikkonen's natural talent, and snapped him up on a long-term deal in 2002.

The following season, Raikkonen took Schumacher down to the final race of the season in a thrilling championship but he would have to wait for the German to retire before finally getting his hands on an elusive world title.

Ferrari chose Raikkonen as Schumacher's replacement in 2007, hiring him for a reported $41 million.

He soon earned his corn, bringing the drivers' title back to Ferrari after seeing off Hamilton by a single point.

Ferrari has now returned to Raikkonen for a quick fix as the Scuderia desperately seeks to rein in the all-conquering Red Bull team.

Raikkonen, who turns 34 in October, will not be able to offer a long-term solution -- but Ferrari chiefs are gambling on the fact that given the right car he will deliver, and deliver quickly.

Via: Raikkonen returns to Ferrari in 2014

Vettel breaks Ferrari hearts at Monza

(CNN) -- Sebastian Vettel dashed Fernando Alonso's hopes of delivering a home victory for Ferrari at Monza with another commanding drive to win the Italian Grand Prix Sunday.

The three-time defending champion secured his sixth win of the season after starting on pole position, relegating Spain's Alonso to second place.

Vettel's Red Bull teammate Mark Webber finished third ahead of the second Ferrari of Brazilian Felipe Massa.

The victory extended Vettel's advantage in the world title race over Alonso to 53 points with seven rounds remaining.

Britain's Lewis Hamilton, who was forced to start from 12th after a poor qualifying session Saturday, could only manage ninth spot, but remained in third place in the standings, 81 points adrift.

Read: Vettel's caution despite practice dominance

Vettel's only significant problem was self imposed as he flat spotted his front right tire after breaking too sharply into the first corner of the race.

Under pressure from Massa, the 26-year-old German was desperate to hold on to his lead after the traditional flat out start at Monza.

Two time champion Alonso, back in fifth on the grid after his difficulties in qualifying, quickly worked his way up to third before Massa gave way to him under team orders.

Vettel was able to nurse his tires until the first and only round of pit stops for the leading contenders without coming under serious challenge.

Alonso was briefly challenged by Webber until the Australian was ordered to back off because of gear selection problems, which were also problematic for the leader Vettel.

Read: Alonso shows Ferrari frustrations

But he took the checkered flag 5.4 seconds clear of Alonso to take an even firmer grip on the championship he has dominated for the past four seasons.

Vettel was only too aware that his victory was unlikely to be welcomed by the tifosi diehards who had flocked to the circuit in northern Italy to support their beloved Ferrari.

"It was a fantastic race, but you can hear the difference when you don't win here in a red suit," Vettel said.

"But this means you have done well and beaten the red men!

"The race was terrific for both of us as we had problems with the gearboxes at the end, but I was ok because I had a good cushion. It is a fantastic win."

Alonso acknowledged there was little he could do to prevent the 32nd victory of Vettel's career.

"Second place is good and to have this podium ceremony which is the most spectacular podium of the year," he said.

"Hopefully we'll come back next year and have first place. Every time I am here this podium and this experience is more and more special."

Read: Di Resta reveals Ferrari dream

Outside the front runners, Germany's Nico Hulkenberg underlined his reputation as one of the most promising young drivers on the grid with an excellent fifth place in the uncompetitive Sauber.

His compatriot Nico Rosberg finished sixth for Mercedes ahead of Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Toro Rosso, who will replace Webber at Red Bull next season.

Romain Grosjean of Lotus held off the fast-charging Hamilton for eighth, while Britain's Jenson Button earned a single point for McLaren, who were celebrating their 50th anniversary as an F1 team.

Hamilton, who had to contend with a slow puncture which meant an extra pit stop, conceded his title hopes were over.

"It's awful when you are just empty of energy and have given everything for just two points -- and that's it for the championship now," he told BBC Sport.

The F1 circuit will now depart Europe for the next round under the lights on the spectacular street circuit in Singapore with Vettel in prime position for a fourth straight title.

Via: Vettel breaks Ferrari hearts at Monza

Fernando shrugs off Ferrari frustration

(CNN) -- On the face of Saturday's qualifying results, Ferrari's hopes of closing the gap on the all-conquering Red Bull at the Italian team's home grand prix seem as distant as they have most of this season.

Fernando Alonso will start Sunday's race at Monza fifth on the grid, and a place behind teammate Felipe Massa, while Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber will have the front row to themselves.

Alonso, 46 points behind Formula One championship leader Vettel, had appeared to make up ground on the German in the morning practice session but qualifying did not go to plan.

The Spaniard had hoped to use "towing" tactics behind Massa to boost his lap times, but the Brazilian got too far ahead in the third session and ended up setting a faster pace.

F1 interactive: Explore Monza

Alonso was heard complaining on his team radio, "Felipe is too far away!" -- and then reportedly called his crew "idiots," though he said it was actually "geniuses."

However, the two-time world champion later downplayed the incident and insisted he was happier this weekend than after the previous race in Belgium, where Alonso qualified ninth and Massa 10th.

"Here at Monza the slipstreaming strategy is often used: having a car three to four seconds ahead of you allows you to gain a few tenths and for that I must thank Felipe, especially in Q3 when I came up behind Vergne's Toro Rosso and he waited for me," Alonso, Alonso, who won the race for Ferrari in 2010 and McLaren in 2007, said on his team's website.

"The radio messages have been misunderstood, as is often the case when you don't experience something first hand: the word 'genius' refers to the fact that we could have got out before Rosberg had gone by on his quick lap, but this should not raise any doubts about the impeccable job from the whole team.

"Today, we were able to run competitively in all three sessions and get closer than ever before to the rear wings of the Red Bulls. For the first time, there are not so many cars between them and us."

Read: Vettel sets pace in Monza practice

Nevertheless, Alonso's best time of one minute 24.142 seconds was well adrift of Vettel's 1:23.755, while Webber clocked 1:23.968.

Vettel is seeking his third victory at Monza, having won there in 2008 with Toro Rosso and again in 2011 on the way to his second of three consecutive world titles.

"We didn't expect to be so strong here, with both cars on the front row," he said after earning his fourth pole this season.

"We've had years where we've had a good car, but not a car that's competitive in low downforce trim, so in that regard we did our homework."

Read: Scot's Italian roots, Ferrari 'dream'

Nico Hulkenberg, whose Sauber is powered by a Ferrari engine, provided the surprise of the day as he clinched third place on the grid in 1:24.065.

"I didn't expect that after a very difficult Friday," said the German, whose teammate Esteban Gutierrez qualified 17th but will start a place higher following Adrian Sutil's penalty.

"Yesterday we struggled a lot with the car and the guys have done a fantastic job turning it around to give me such a competitive car today."

While Hulkenberg boosted his chances of a best finish since placing eighth in Malaysia in March, Mercedes boss Ross Brawn lamented his team's worst qualifying performance this season.

Lewis Hamilton missed final qualifying for the first time in 67 races, and will start 12th on the grid after his run of four successive pole positions ended in miserable style.

Read: Alonso saves cycling team

Nico Rosberg was back in sixth, having missed most of the morning practice due to hydraulics problems.

"That was our worst qualifying session of the year," Brawn said. "With the standards we set ourselves, that makes this result a real disappointment."

Hamilton refused to blame Sutil for the incident that cost the Force India driver a three-place penalty, demoting the German to 17th as punishment for impeding the British driver as he tried to set a timed lap.

"I just didn't get a lap together in Q2 today and it's hugely disappointing, not just for me, but also for the team and I can only apologize to them as we had a quick car today," said the 2008 world champion, who won the race last year while at McLaren.

"I came off at Parabolica on my first run which damaged the car and it was a downward spiral from there really."

Read: McLaren's 50 years in F1

Daniel Ricciardo, who will replace his fellow Australian Webber at Red Bull next season, bounced back from a difficult Friday by qualifying seventh for Toro Rosso -- his teammate Jean Eric Vergne was 10th.

McLaren's struggles continued, with Sergio Perez eighth and 2009 world champion Jenson Button ninth.

Kimi Raikkonen's title hopes receded even further as the Finn was back in 11th for Lotus, with teammate Romain Grosjean 13th.

Via: Fernando shrugs off Ferrari frustration

Vettel sets the pace in Monza practice

(CNN) -- Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel urged caution ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, despite a dominating performance which underlined his position at the top of the world championship standings.

Formula One's triple defending champion went fastest in practice ahead of Sunday's race at the Monza circuit with a lap of one minute and 24.453 seconds, over a half a second clear of his teammate Mark Webber.

Vettel, who is 46 points clear of second-placed Fernando Alonso of Ferrari in the drivers' championship, expects a keen battle for pole position in Saturday's qualifying session.

Fasten your seat belts: A guide to Monza

"It was a good day, but it is still only a Friday," the German, a two-time winner of this race, told reporters.

"It looks tight. If you look at it too much it can be a distraction, but I think it will be a close qualifying with many cars up there.

"Tomorrow, I expect it to be close. It is a short lap and there are not too many corners -- so not that much you can do right, and not much you can do wrong."

Red Bull announced earlier this week that Daniel Ricciardo, currently driving for Red Bull's sister team Toro Rosso, will replace Webber in 2014 when his fellow Australian quits F1 to race in the Le Mans series for Porsche.

Read: Paul di Resta reveals Ferrari dream

"Although we're quite competitive, we're not quick enough yet and will have to work hard tonight to see where we can make some improvements," said Webber.

"Of course we don't know what fuel loads other teams are on so we'll have to wait and see but there is a bit of work for us to do if we want to compete right at the front tomorrow."

Ricciardo, however, was off the pace -- 13th in the first session and 17th in the second.

"Unfortunately, we seem to have gone in the wrong direction," the 24-year-old said. "Having run only the hard (tires) in the morning, in the afternoon, I did not set a competitive time on the medium.

"I did make some mistakes and I will admit to that, but there were too many of them so we definitely need to get the car to suit me a bit better. At the moment, it's on a knife edge."

Lewis Hamilton won this race with McLaren in 2012, but a repeat performance with his current team Mercedes looks unlikely.

The 2008 world champion could only go sixth fastest in the afternoon session after setting the pace in the morning, just ahead of seventh-placed teammate Nico Rosberg.

Read: F1 star Alonso saves cycling team

"Although we're quite competitive, we're not quick enough yet and will have to work hard tonight to see where we can make some improvements," said the Briton.

"Of course we don't know what fuel loads other teams are on so we'll have to wait and see, but there is a bit of work for us to do if we want to compete right at the front tomorrow."

All eyes will be on Alonso at Ferrari's home grand prix. The Spaniard registered the fifth fastest lap time, behind the Lotus duo of Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean.

Alonso's teammate Felipe Massa was eighth fastest, with McLaren's Jenson Button and Sergio Perez rounding out the top 10.

Via: Vettel sets the pace in Monza practice